World Boxing Confirms Details Of AIN Procedure

That Will Allow Boxers Brom Russia And Belarus

To Take Part In Its Competitions!

(April 28th) World Boxing has confirmed the details of its new AIN procedure – ‘Athlètes Individuels Neutres’ (Individual Neutral Athletes) - which will be used to determine the basis on which athletes, coaches, support staff and officials from Russia and Belarus will be permitted to participate in international competitions organized by World Boxing, its Continental Confederation for Europe, European Boxing, or international competitions organized by World Boxing member National Federations.

It means that delegations from Russia and Belarus will not be allowed to participate with national flags, uniforms or anthems and will have to pass a detailed vetting process to be able to take part in World Boxing events.

The AIN procedure was approved by the Executive Board of World Boxing at its most recent meeting in April 2026 and reflects the approach taken by the International Olympic Committee (IOC).  It has been developed following the decision by the Executive Board of World Boxing, at its previous meeting in March 2026, to endorse membership applications from the Belarussian Boxing Federation and the Russian Boxing Federation that will allow their boxers to compete in World Boxing events.

Key details of the AIN procedure are:

Flags:

There will be no use of the country or National Federation flag during the competition

If a boxer from an AIN country wins a gold medal, the national anthem will not be played

If a boxer from an AIN country wins a medal, the AIN logo will be used on a flag in the medal ceremony

The boxers will be represented on television graphics and all competition information as AIN

This will be applied at all age category international events directly organized by World Boxing, European Boxing or World Boxing National Federation members

Uniforms:

Boxers will appear with AIN on their vests and not RUS or BLR

The logo of the National Federation or the country will not be permitted to appear anywhere on a boxer’s uniform

Coaches, support staff and Team Officials will have to wear neutral uniforms which will have to be submitted to World Boxing prior to the competition for validation

From arrival until departure, not a single member of the AIN delegation will be permitted to wear any item that features their country or National Federation’s flag or logo in any competition setting, including the entry check, draw, weigh-in and technical meeting

This will be applied at all age category events organised by World Boxing, European Boxing or international events organised by National Federations where national teams participate

Eligibility and Vetting:

Athlete entries by Russia and Belarus must be made directly to the World Boxing Sport Department and not directly through the online entry system for the event, however the deadlines in the invitation package will still apply and will not be modified

World Boxing will work with an expert, independent third party to conduct a series of checks on all athletes from Russia and Belarus that are entered into its competitions to ensure they do not have a history of supporting the war in Ukraine, are not paid by the military or security forces, are not members of clubs linked to the army or police force and have not participated in any events organized by The International Military Sports Council (CISM) since the start of the war in Ukraine

The cost of the vetting process for each athlete will be covered by the National Federation for Russia or Belarus and must be paid in advance of their participation in the competition

The vetting process will apply to all male and female athletes at Elite World Boxing competition, but will not apply to U19 or younger athletes

The vetting process will also apply to coaches and support staff that will be assisting male and female boxers at Elite and U19 competitions and the costs of this will also be paid by the National Federations

Technical Officials (TO) from the two countries will be treated as any other TO and vetted in line with World Boxing’s existing processes; additional checks may be conducted on TOs, but this will not be at the cost of the National Federation as the TO is not representing their country. Currently there are no Technical Officials accredited from the two countries.

If the vetting process for any individual produces a result that is not clear or raises further questions, a commission appointed by World Boxing’s Executive Board will review the case

The decision of the commission will be final and not open to appeal unless new information is provided

The AIN procedure has been introduced with immediate effect following the decision of World Boxing’s Executive Board and the Secretary General has written to the Belarussian Boxing Federation and the Russian Boxing Federation to provide them with details of the procedure and how it will be implemented.

World Boxing

World Boxing is a non-profit international federation set up to administer the sports of Olympic-style boxing, Paralympic boxing (otherwise called “Adaptive boxing”) and E-sport boxing.  It is a civil association founded for an unlimited period of time having its own legal identity as a non-profit organization in accordance with Article 60 of the Swiss Civil Code.  World Boxing is under the jurisdiction of Switzerland.